Rebels OOM: Meeting the cell

[childofrebellion]

Inside the catacombs, there's a hall that once was a warehouse for droids but has long been abandoned. As it sits not far from other warehouses, it makes for a good place to meet if you know it. When Cassian enters the large space, he knocks a signal onto a crate as he says, "The ice is strong this year."

From the darkness, a young voice answers, "And the snows came early."

Then from behind a bunch of crates, a human about age thirteen, a Togorian and Naotolan, both in their older teens emerged with blasters held carefully.

The human smiled at the sight of Cassian, "I knew you would come."

"Yes, and I found you a safe way to get off planet, to join other rebels," He moves to give space for Hera and Kanan to be visible.

Comments

[notallofus]

Ty is fidgeting restlessly next to Kanan as they eye their own approach to the spaceport, searching the relatively sparse crowd for a reasonable excuse to be going this way.

"Settle down," Kanan says quietly. "Do you see anything likely?"

Ty shakes his head, but refocuses, squinting and biting his lip as he tries to plot out a course.

"There's a food cart inside, sometimes. Friendly to the 'troopers. We could say I want to get something from them?"

Kanan's smile is quick. "Not bad. Let's get going, then."

Standing here is going to look suspicious pretty damn soon.

[childofrebellion]

Ty nods back at Kanan and walks forward, trying to be casual though his tentacles move restlessly as he passes the trooper saying, "The food's worth the walk."

At another part of the spaceport, Cassian approaches the small ship that's his way out.

A trooper's standing nearby and Cassian shifts how he's walking to look drunk and out of it. The trooper notices him and says, "You, where are you going?"

"To my ship and my friend over there," He gestures in the general direction of the port and the trooper laughs walking over and purposefully tripping him.

Cassian hits the ground, he takes more of the fall than he'd like but he needs to make it look right. The trooper laughs and kicks his side, "Get up and get out of my sight."

Slowly Cassian stands up with a nod before going through another layer of ships to find his ship and the Pantoran pilot who's green skin is paler from waiting, "There you are. Let's get going."

He gets aboard and taps out another message saying that he's at his ship.

[for_everyone]

She waits a few seconds after Yna and Mig have passed, then turns back to the trooper, and tells him she needs to check on a haul expected from Sullust. The trooper's helmet tilts only slightly when she offers her identification, as he's more interested in telling her when his shift ends.

Hera smiles, but it fades once she's stepped through the arched door. Once inside, she locks eyes with Yna and Mig, and starts in the direction of the Phantom.

"Keep watch while I start up the systems," she murmurs, once they're close enough to her. "And try not to bump the droid."

[notallofus]

"It better be," Kanan says, voice rougher than it usually is. He gives a great scowl, though. And once they're past the trooper and out of sight --

"Right. This way. You're doing good at looking casual, kid."

It'll be great once the back of his neck is no longer itching. And for Kanan, that means making it to the safety of Hera's ship.

Fortunately, that'll only take a little bit more walking.

[childofrebellion]

Ty smiles at Kanan once they're past the trooper and starts looking at the ships to figure out where they're headed. In a few moments, he spots Yna and Mig and waves to them, waiting to see if Kanan says anything first.

On his ship, Cassian waits for the message that they've all arrived before leaving, mentally counting over how long the travel takes.

[for_everyone]

Chopper at least can't complain that he's surprised by their guests, and Hera keeps him busy at the front of the shuttle as they wait for the others to arrive. She glances back a few times at Yna and Mig, as the Phantom's systems tune up, and she takes the pilot's chair.

"We're ready."

[notallofus]

"Don't wave!" Kanan says to Ty, out of the corner of his mouth.

But he does fractionally pick up the pace as they make their way to the Phantom, and then inside.

"Almost home. Go find your friends, kid."

He'll take his leave of Ty, then, and make his way to the front of the shuttle, and Hera.

"So far, so good." Here's hoping the trend continues.

[childofrebellion]

Ty puts his hand down and instead heads forward to meet his friends and get inside. They quietly share how their journey went and Mig asks, "Does our friend know we're safe?"

[for_everyone]

"Let's get us safe first," Hera calls back to them, "Chop, let's lock up."

Once the back ramp has pulled up and locked in place, she thumbs the com, signaling that everyone's aboard.

[notallofus]

"C'mon, kids," Kanan says, looking in their direction.

"Get strapped in for this next part. Things might get a little . . . fast."

[childofrebellion]

Yna glares at being called a kid but they all move to strap in.

When Cassian get the comm, he allows a small breath then says to his pilot, "Let's get out of here."

The ship lifts off with slightly more of a push than planned but they're going.

[for_everyone]

The Phantom lifts off smoothly enough, but -

"We're not getting departure authorization." It's not something she'd usually have to announce, but the recruits deserve to know what's going on.

"But I can get us gone before we're noticed."

Chopper lets out a low whistle. Sometimes.

[notallofus]

Kanan looks back at the kids again, mouth quirking in what's meant to be a reassuring smile.

Some things are old hat by now.

"She really can," he assures them.

(And also cuts a glare at Chopper. Briefly.)

[childofrebellion]

All three of the recruits share a nervous glance but don't say anything. Too late to turn back now.

On the other ship, their departure is also delayed and Cassian's fiddling with his datapad and activates a bit of code he'd set up. Over the comm, there's a grumble as something is acting up with the port's computers. Cassian gives a nod to the pilot who speeds up and hits hyperspace as soon as they can.

[for_everyone]

They race up, banking hard as Hera sweeps into cloud cover. Akiva offers plenty of it, and that's what keeps Hera smiling even as there's a screech in the sky around them.

"Chop, you've got our heading, be ready to calculate the jump," she calls, taking another hard turn as she threads among the clouds. She can feel the TIE contingent around them, some close enough that the flare of their engines flash in her peripheral vision, yet none move closer to the shuttle.

"There's a reason she's called the Phantom." Hera rounds another cloud, and tightens her grip as she prepares to race through the atmosphere.

[notallofus]

"Two reasons," Kanan says, mouth quirking in a smile even as he grips his seat with white-knuckled hands.

(He does love watching Hera fly, even when his stomach gets jolted by quick twists and turns.)

"We're going to get out of this, don't you worry."

That last is to the kids. Because they're kids.

[childofrebellion]

Mig grips Yna and Ty's hands as they go twist and turn but they keep quiet as they make it past. Mig manages to say, "We will."

[for_everyone]

She takes another sharp turn, and the shuttle rockets up. There's a violent tremble as they hit atmo, and a burst of emerald flashes outside. Chopper whines, but Hera keeps her eyes ahead.

"Just get ready for the jump, it's too late for them now."

[notallofus]

"We've got this," Kanan says, and it would be nice to think he's speaking for the Force, wouldn't it?

But it's pretty much just his confidence in Hera and the Phantom (and Chopper, never tell him) speaking.

"Though I do kind of wish we were in the Ghost right now."

Kanan can feel his fingers itching to be around laser cannon controls, which would be fine if the Phantom's cockpit fit more than two people. As it is, all he can do is hold on and wait.

But he's learning to be good at that, too.

[childofrebellion]

Ty leans forward slightly as if trying to will the ship faster, as Yna's fur is puffed up. Mig's scared but excited as they dart through and he says, "That's where we're going?"

[for_everyone]

"Hold on -"

Is all the warning the others get before Hera pulls the shuttle into a tight spin. There's another flash of green light, but Chopper gives an affirmative whistle, and Hera steadies them just long enough to launch the Phantom into hyperspace. The stars slide into a bright blue blur, and Hera leans back in her chair. "Hopefully that gave them a distraction."

She turns back to their passengers. "The Ghost is our ship, but you'll be joining some of our allies, they'll be expecting you."

[notallofus]

"They'll know how to put you to good use," Kanan says. And then, a little hastily --

"Your skills, I mean. Uh. It's a good team."

He flicks a quick look at Hera.

"You'll settle in quickly."

Kanan hopes, anyway.

[childofrebellion]

"Being useful is why we're here," Yna says though her voice rises a bit during the spin.

"And to help more," Ty adds with a little smile, that was an amazing piloting job. Mig nods and watches the blue of hyperspace.

[for_everyone]

"You'll get plenty of opportunity where you're going."

Chopper beeps his agreement, though it comes with a sarcastic suggestion about 'swabbing the deck.' Hera rolls her eyes.

[notallofus]

Kanan shoots Chopper a quelling glare.

(Or it would be quelling, if Chopper weren't the recipient. Probably.)

"Yeah, there's not going to be an end to the workload any time soon."